definition of
cipher

[1] #1 cipher n. [cypher] a message written in a secret code. wn

[2] #2 cipher v. [code, encipher, cypher, encrypt, inscribe, write in code] convert ordinary language into code; "We should encode the message for security reasons". wn

[3] #3 cipher n. [zero, 0, nought, cypher] a mathematical element that when added to another number yields the same number. wn

[4] #4 cipher v. [calculate, cypher, compute, work out, reckon, figure] make a mathematical calculation or computation. wn

[5] #5 cipher n. [nothing, nil, nix, nada, null, aught, cypher, goose egg, naught, zero, zilch, zip, zippo] a quantity of no importance; "it looked like nothing I had ever seen before"; "reduced to nil all the work we had done"; "we racked up a pathetic goose egg"; "it was all for naught"; "I didn't hear zilch about it". wn